Manually manipulable ball game board



Dec. 27, 1949 J. CAESAR MANUALLY MANIPULATABLE BALL GAME BOARD Filed June 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R n N w Jl/L/l/S 6445 5412 Dec. 27, 1949 J. CAESAR MANUALLY MANIPULATABLE BALL GAME BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1948 iA/VEA/J'OR Jam/s 0 4554%;

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 MANUALLY MANIPULABLE BALL GAME BOARD Julius Caesar, Humboldt, Tenn.

Application June 12, 1948, Serial No. 32,646

This invention relates to an improved game of skill played with a tiltable and manipulatable board and balls, and concerns games of this type which employ a plurality of balls, a board structure having ball detaining pockets and a central support mounting the structure for limited universal manipulation.

It particularly relates to a board structure which includes replaceable indicia plates having thereon value denominated indicia arranged in identical pattern, an overlying transparent sheet through which the indicia are visible, and having holes therethrough in pattern identically conforming to said indicia plate pattern, said sheet being supported in spaced relation above said plates to establish ball detaining pockets.

The objects of the invention are, me. ball and board game:

To provide a board establishing a fixed pocket pattern and interchangeable indicia plates having conforming pattern cooperating therewith; and

To pibvide a board having a ball field with ball receiving openings therethrough and fully visible interchangeable indicia plates spaced therebelow establishing ball detaining pocket depth.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from the following specifications on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the board showing one of the interchangeable indicia plates.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing a playing card forming an indicium of the preferred indicia plate and means for securing the card to the plate.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the board showing an alternate form of indicia plate; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sketch showing an indicium of the alternate indicia plate.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The board comprises a square base I 2 centrally supported by a post I 4 which terminates in a vacuum cup l6 by which it is anchored to a table or other support during playing of the game, the resiliency of the cup permitting tilting of the board in any direction.

Surrounding the board is a rim l8 completing a shallow box or tray in which a number of interchangeable indicia plates, as the plates 2!], 22,

maybe placed, the upper of these plates only 11 Claims. (01. 273-115) 2 being visible and during playing of a game providing the indicia field for that game.

Removably resting on the plates is a spacer block 24 which preferably extends continuously around the box adjacent the box rim i8. and is circularly cut out to annularly encircle and outline the underlying indicia field.

The spaced block supports a playing field 26, preferably a sheet of transparent plastic, but which may be of glass or other transparent material, substantially fitting the box. The field 2 6 in turn supports quadrants 28, which are disposed in the four corners and which establish the limits of the playing field of the box and may beinone piece or in separate parts, as shown. These quadrants are cut out to form pockets 30 in which balls 32, used in playing the game, may be stored. The quadrants are respectively spaced from the rim to form channelways 34A of the channels extending substantially into tangency to the circle of the underlying indicia field. The inner edges 34B of the quadrants are arcuate and continue the outer sides of the channelways arcuately inward to the playing field. The mouth of each of the'channels respectively is closed by a hinged or flexible gate 36 which allows exit of the balls from the channels, but prevents their return. Preferably the spacer block, transparent sheet and quadrants are secured together by rivets 38, or otherwise, into a unitary structure which may be removed for change of the indicia plates 20, 22.

The indicia fields of the cards 20 and 22, though having diiferent indicia, are laid out in identical patterns, the four quarters of each pattern preferably being identical. The transparent overlying playing field 26 is provided with holes 4!} laid out in an identical pattern so that when placed over the indicia plates the playing field holes will each register with an underlying indicia. The holes are of size each to loosely receive a single ball 32. the field preferably having a central hole 42 therethrough of size to receive ajplurality of the balls, preferably four or five. Preferably a spacing collar 44, of the same thickness as the spacer block 24, underlies the sheet 26 around the hole 42 and is secured to the sheet as by pins 46. and is removable with the sheet.

In preferred form the indicia fields of the variout plates used comprise a pattern of 52 spaces corresponding in number to the 52 cards of an ordinary desk of cards in order that playing cards of reduced size may be used as the indicia displayed on the field. The field is arranged in a pattern of four quadrants, each having 13 spaces. Where cards are used ears 68, Figs. 3 and 4, may be struck up from the plates and the opposite ends of the cards engaged therebeneath'. In arranging the cards on the plate endeavor is made to so distribute them'that few, if any. pairs of numbers or sequences of suits occur. In Fig. 1 such an arrangement of cards is indicated, the cards being, however, designated by the initial of the suit and the value of the card, as KS for King of Spades, AH for Ace of Hearts, and 8C for Eight of Clubs, etc. Obviously the actual cards are preferably used, and they may be adhered to the plate 28, instead of detachably secured thereto, as shown, should it be so desired. Where cards are used, they may be given the numerical values ordinarily associated therewith except that the Aces as positioned are assessed the value of 14.

The center of the plate is marked with the word Joker, and the cards are arranged around this center with the Aces and Kings in the adjacent circle and the remainder of the cards in concentric circles radially outward therefrom in accordance with their decreasing values. as before stated, plates bearing other indicia thereon, as the plate 22, on which stars are indicated, may be used, the stars, as the star shown in Fig. '7, which is lined for red, being of distinguishing colors and in four groups each of 13 stars, and the stars of each group being numbered individually from 2 to 14.v As in the case of the playing cards the cards are so distributed 1 that as far as possible sequences of color or pairs of numbers do not occur. Preferably the center of the board would carry the number 15 and the stars be arranged therearound with the number values decreasing radially outward therefrom.

The balls 32 are preferably of four colors, the players being provided with equal numbers of the ba11s,.preferably 5, all the same color. In playing the game the players place their five balls in the pockets 3!] assigned to them, and the first player, who may be chosen by lot or otherwise selected, removes the balls which he is to play to the adjacent channel 34 and tilts the board to discharge one or more as his skill permits onto the playing field, and by subsequent manipulation of the board attempts to guide the ball into the center pocket if he can, or into a hole as close thereto as possible. Subsequently he dislodges an additional ball or balls from the channelway until he has played all of his balls, after which the next player to the left takes over and plays his balls, this continuing until all of theplayers have played. If playing cards are used the hands indicated by the five balls of the players may be numerically evaluated and totaled, or the winner determined by the usual rules of a card game agreed upon.

While it is exceedingly unusual that any ball shall reach the center hole, it is not impossible that one player might even place two or even more balls in that pocket. Ordinarily if he places more than one ball in the pocket he isallowed to withdraw the second ball so placed and replay it, but other rules may obviously be made governing such conditions. In any event the center hole is large enough to hold one ball of each of the four players and preferably an additional ball. In playing a game with the form of field shown in Fig. the game is played in the same manner but evaluation is usually dependent upon the numerical score of the five balls placed by each of the players. It will be noted, however, that special rules may be made, as for instance, redoubling the value of the point score of a hole where the ball placed therein is of. the same color as the indicia, and obviously other rules may also be established in respect thereto.

It will be noted that in the form of field shown on the plate 22, Fig. 5, zone values may be assigned to each of the four circular groups of If desired,-

Cal

holes, and to the center, as the values 10, 20, 40, 80, for the four groups and for the center, the latter two values being purposely omitted from the drawing, Fig. 5, to avoid confusicn, and as an easier game the values of these zones may be used in determining the result of play rather than the individual values of the holes.

Additional plate designs may be substituted or plates added should it be desired, it being noted that the construction shown permits storage of additional plates without interference with even support of the playing field. Obviously also alternate designs may be printed on opposite faces of any plate and the desired side faced upward for use.

It will be understood that the center opening :52 in the transparent sheet 26 may be omitted, or that having been provided it may be closed by a disc or plug (not shown) so that the game may I be played without the center opening if it be so desired.

I claim:

1. A game including a playing table; said table including an upwardly raced indicia plate, spacer means, displaced from indicia portions of said plate, overlying portions of said plate, and a transparent sheet supported by said spacer means and forming a playing field. upon which balls may be freely supported; said spacer means and sheet being of substantially less. thickness than the diameters of. said balls, saidsheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia on said plate, and means supportin Said I table for manually controlled universal tilting.

2. A game including a playing table; said table comprising a holder, means supporting the holder for manually controllable universal tilting, upwardly faced indicia means disposed in said holder, a spacer member overlying peripheral portions of said indicia means'and annularly surrounding. the indicia portions thereof, a transparent sheet supported by said spacer member and forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said spacer member and sheet being of less thickness than the diameters of said balls, said sheet having therethrough holes for said balls arranged in conforming pattern to the arrangement pattern of said indicia means.

3. A game including a playing table; said table comprising a holder, means supporting the holder for manually controllable universal tilting, an upwardly faced indicia carrying pl'atedisposed in said holder, spacer means overlying portions of said plate and displaced from the indicia thereof, :a transparent sheet supported by said spacer means and forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said spacer means and sheet being'of less thickness than the diameters of said balls, said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in con-forming pattern to the arrangement of the indicia on said plate.

4. A game including a playing table comprising a holder, means'supporting the holder for manually controllable universal tilting, interchangeable indici'a-carrying plates of identical indicia arrangement disposed in said holder with the upper of said plates upwardly faced, spacer means overlying portions of said plates and displaced from the indicia portions thereof, a transparent sheet supported by said spacer means and forming a playing'field upon which balls may be free- 1y supported; said sheetand said spacer means being of'substantial ly less thickness than the diameters of said balls, said sheet having bal1 receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the arrangement of the indicia on said plates.

5. A game including a playing table; and means supporting said table for manually controlled universal tilting; said table including an upwardly facing indicia plate having a central indicium and indicia arranged therearound in quadrant-s of identical pattern, spacer means overlying 'peripheral portions of said plate and spaced outward from indicia thereof, and a transparent sheet, supported by said spacer means, forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia on said plate.

6. A game including a playing table, and means supporting said table for manually controlled unlversal tilting; said table including an \upwardly facing indicia plate having a central indicium and the fifty-two cards of a deck of playing cards disposed concentrically therearound in quadrants of identical pattern arrangement, each quadrant containing cards of each of the four suits of the deck, with the cards arranged outwardly in the order of their decreasing values, spacer means overlying peripheral portions of said plate outward from said cards, and a transparent sheet,

arranged therearound, spacer means overlying peripheral portions of said plate, a transparent sheet coextensive with said plate supported by said spacer means and forming a playing field, upon which balls may be freely supported; said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia on said plate, quadrants respectively overlying the four corners of said sheet, said quadrants each being seated against one portion of said rim, and spaced from another portion thereof to form a channelway in which said balls may be placed for free discharge upon said field; and non-return exit gates at the discharge end of said channelways.

8. A game including a playing board, and means of supporting said board for manually controllable universal tilting; said board including a shallow box having a rectangular base and peripheral sides, an upwardly facing indicia plate disposed in and substantially fitting within the sides of said box, said plate having indicia thereon, spacer means outward from said indicia, overlying peripheral portions of said plate, a transparent sheet coextensive with said plate supported by said spacer means and forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia on said plate, quadrants respectively overlying the four corners of said sheet, said quadrants having arcuately curved inwardly facing edges forming a confining rim for said field, each quadrant having one outer side spaced from a side of said box to form therewith a channelway in which said balls may be disposed for free discharge upon said field, and a non-return exit gate at the discharge end of said channelway, the arcuately curved inner edge of the proximate quadrant continuing the outer edge of said channelway beyond said gate.

9. A game including a playing board, and means supporting said board for manually controlled universal tilting; said board including a shallow box having a rectangular base and peripheral sides, an upwardly facing indicia plate disposed in and substantially fitting within the sides of said box, said plate having indicia thereon, spacer means displaced outward from said indicia, overlying portions of said plate, a transparent sheet coextensive with said plate supported by said spacer means and forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia on said plate, quadrants respectively overlying the four corners of said sheet, said quadrants having arcuately curved inwardly facing edges forming a confining rim for said field, each quadrant having one outer side spaced from a side of said box to form therewith a, channelway in which balls may be placed for discharge upon said field, and a non-return exit gate at the discharge end of said channelway, the arcuately curved inner edge of the proximate quadrant continuing the outer edge of said channelway beyond said gate, said spacer means, said sheet and said quadrants being secured together into a removable unitary member.

10. A game including a playing board, and means for supporting said board for manually controlled universal tilting, said board including a plate having individual indicia thereon, a transparent sheet coextensive with said plate and forming a playing field upon which balls may be freely supported; said sheet having ball receiving holes therethrough arranged in conforming pattern to the pattern arrangement of the indicia of said plate, spacing means supported by said plate supporting said sheet in spaced relation substan-- tially one-half ball diameter above said plate, quadrants respectively overlying the four corners of said sheet, and means securing said spacing means, said sheet and said quadrants together, said quadrants having arcuately curved inner edges forming a rim around said indicia group, means along one outer edge of each said quadrant forming a channelway in which balls may be placed for discharge upon said field, and non-return exit gates at the discharge ends of said channelways, the proximate ends of the arcuately curved inner edges of said quadrants being outwardly displaced to continue the outer sides of said channelways.

11. A game in accordance with claim 10, in which said indicia includes a central indicium and the fifty-two cards of a deck of playing cards arranged in a pattern concentrically around said indicium, said pattern including four substantially identical quadrants, each containing at least two cards of each of the four suits of the deck. JULIUS CAESAR.

No references cited. 

